1. USE A COMMA:  with a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses.  Betty is the homecoming queen, and Bill is the king.  to separate introductory phrases, words, or clauses from the main part of the sentence.  After the Vietnam War ended, a number of veterans were hospitalized.

2. USE A COMMA:  to separate nonrestrictive clauses, phrases, and appositives from the rest of the sentence.  The scout leader, overweight and out of shape, trudged up the hill.  DO NOT set off restrictive information with commas.  Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn is on the censored list.

3. USE A COMMA:  to separate direct quotations from the phrase identifying the speaker.  John said, "The fishing is great in Bear Lake.“  to separate the names of smaller geographic units from the names of larger units.  Denver, Colorado, is called the Mile High City.

4. USE A COMMA:  to separate items in a date. Omit the comma when just the month and year or month and day are given.  Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.  to separate names of titles or degrees that follow the name.  Harold Johnson, Ph.D., will speak in the Commons on Tuesday.

5. USE A COMMA:  to separate short, tightly, interrelated clauses in a series.  John phoned, Mary stopped by, and Phil left a message.  to mark allowable omissions of repeated words, especially verbs.  Your analysis is superb; your execution, appalling.

6. USE A COMMA:  to provide clarity and prevent misreading, even if none of the other rules apply.  We left him, assured that he would fail.  (We were sure that he would fail.)  We left him assured that he would fail.  (He was sure that he would fail.)  to separate three or more items or phrases in a series.  Golfing, swimming, and bowling are my favorite activities.

7. USE A COMMA:  to separate a series of two or more adjectives not connected by a conjunction if the order of the adjectives can be reversed and still retain the same meaning.  Your friend is a clever, sensitive person.  to separate interrupters or parenthetical and transitional words from the rest of the sentence.  Most of them, however, do try to act friendly and courteous.

8. USE A COMMA:  to separate contradictory phrases from the rest of the sentence.  It was Betty, not Joan, who was elected queen of the prom.  to separate names used in direct address or other isolates such as yes, no, and thank you from the rest of the sentence.  Tell me, John, did you vote for Joan?  No, I am not voting for myself.

9. USE A COMMA:  to separate tag questions from the rest of the sentence.  You did that on purpose, didn't you?  to separate words and abbreviations that introduce an example or an illustration, including namely, that is, to wit, i.e., e.g., for example, and for instance.  Many of my friends, for example, Fred, Dean, and Pete, like to golf.

10. Questions and Answers  Does anyone have a question about the rules of comma usage?  PLEASE ASK!!!

11. LET’S PRACTICE!!!  I have told one million lies in my life and that is the Gospel truth.  …life, and that…  As a child I was the kind of kid my mother told me not to play with.  As a child, I was…  Denver which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile.  Denver, which is the capital of Colorado, has…  The city which is the capital of Colorado has an altitude of one mile.  No commas (restrictive)

12. LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!!  Linda asked “Do you think she’ll ever speak to him again?”  Linda asked, “Do you…  Paxton Florida is the home of the mighty Bobcats.  Paxton, Florida, is the…  The No Child Left Behind Act was signed in on January 2 2002.  …January 2, 2002.  July 1990 is the date for the Progress “90” celebration.  No comma (2 items in the date)

13. LET’S KEEP GOING!!!  The commencement speaker was Juliet Brown Ph.D.  …Juliet Brown, Ph.D.  He shot pool he drank Anchor Steam beer and he rarely went home.  He shot pool, he drank Anchor Steam beer, and he rarely went home.  To the winners we give prizes; to the losers consolation; and to the spectators a good show.  …to the loser, consolation; and to the spectators, a good show.

14. ALMOST THERE!!!  The morning after a policeman came to the door.  The morning after, a policeman…  Jeff collected a change of clothing shoes and golf gear before he set off for the day.  …a change of clothing, shoes, and golf gear…  A large green bug settled on the torn autumn leaf.  A large, green bug…

15. WE’RE IN THE HOME STRETCH!!!  The order however was not filled that day.  The order, however, was not…  Pneumonia begins with a p not an n.  …with a p, not an n.  Thank you Susan.  Thank you, Susan.

16. LAST ONES!!!  You’re going aren’t you?  You’re going, aren’t you?  Many of my friends for example Rachel, Jennifer, and Allen, enjoy going to the movies.  Many of my friends, for example, Rachel,…